Libya
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Political Prospects after the Arab Spring
At a Crossroads
In the opinion of the acclaimed Lebanese author Elias Khoury, after the toppling of the old regimes, Arab societies are now heading towards either lasting democratic change or a return to dictatorship by another name
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The University of Tripoli
The Desolate Wasteland of Gaddafi's Education System
During the Gaddafi era, university courses in Libya were ideologically tainted, and students could pass exams by showing themselves to be particularly patriotic or simply by having good connections. But a new day has dawned, and all of this is set to change. Alfred Hackensberger reports from Tripoli
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Libya after the Revolt
Rebuilding the Ruins of Qaddafi
With the creation of a new government, Libya's leaders should finally be able to focus on organizing the transition from the authoritarian state that they inherited to the more pluralistic one they envisage. But are they really able and willing to achieve that goal, asks Barak Barfi
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2011 in the Arab World
No Reason to Fear the Democratic Experiment
Will the Arab Spring end in an Islamist-dominated, backward-looking, grey winter? Despite the Islamists' recent successes in the first free elections in the Arab world, Qantara.de's Loay Mudhoon feels that this is unlikely to be the case
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The Post-Gaddafi Era
Teaching and Learning for a New Libya
The state still does not have much of a presence in Tripoli. Instead, respected citizens are ensuring public order. Enthusiasts have set up new newspapers to educate the country's youth. Werner D'Inka reports
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The Sabha Bookshop in Tripoli
Filling the Intellectual Void
The Sabha bookshop in Tripoli has become a meeting place for intellectuals and former army dissidents. The stories they tell paint a heart-rending portrait of how tough life was under Gaddafi and how thorough and comprehensive the repression of Libyans was. Alfred Hackensberger spoke to the shop's owner and some of its regulars
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Review of Michael Lüders' book on the Arab Spring
How the Arab Revolution Is Changing the World
In his book about the Arab Spring, the well-known Middle East expert and journalist Michael Lüders criticises the West's one-dimensional view of the historic events that have shaken the Arab world over the past year. Sebastian Sons read the book
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Fall of the Gaddafi Clan
A Fresh Start for Libya?
The hunt is over. The last two representatives of the Gaddafi regime have been caught: Saif al-Islam, the last of Gaddafi's fugitive sons, and Abdullah al-Senussi, the head of the Libyan secret service, who was known for his brutality. Alfred Hackensberger reports from Tripoli
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The Arab League and the Conflict in Syria
The Unexpected Renaissance of the Arab League
The Arab League is taking a remarkably firm line towards the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which is setting its face against reform. Loay Mudhoon argues that this is a reaction to the revolutionary events and the regional shifts in power in the Arab world
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New Line of Succession to the Saudi Throne
Riyadh's Old Regime Grows Older
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has named Naif bin Abdelaziz, 77, as crown prince and deputy prime minister, a choice that raises concerns about the direction in which the conservative prince will take the kingdom. By Mai Yamani
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Libya after Gaddafi
Challenges and Opportunities
After the death of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya not only has an opportunity to embark on the path to a more democratic and prosperous future that its people crave but it also has many of the ingredients to get there. By Stefan Wolff
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Libya after Gaddafi
How the 'Brother Leader' Remained in Power So Long
When Muammar Gaddafi toppled King Idris I, he was less than 30 years old. Yet this very man managed to stay in power for almost 42 years, surviving countless coups and assassination attempts. He himself never expected to stay in control for so long, so how did he do it? By Mustafa Fetouri